Familia Dyrst

We have finished our time with MCC in southern Mexico and are now living with Martin's dad in Bluffton Ohio.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Sharing Communion with Sweet Bread and Coca-cola






The last week of July we hosted our first “Work and Learn” group (WAL) from the United States.
We built a cistern, replaced the roof of the sewing room, and trimmed the living barrier grass in the community of Zacango. We also started a dry latrine at our house.

After 6pm mass on our last evening together, we drove to Zacango to say goodbye and give the sewing group parting gifts. When we pulled into town, it was immediately evident that something else was going to happen. Before we could hand out our gifts, each of the women from the sewing group began handing out handmade, hand embroidered dishcloth to each of us. We were then able to give them our gifts, a quilted wall hanging, woven bookmarkers, and sewing supplies and a handmade wooden cross. We presented the cross to the comisario (mayor) and thanked everyone for their incredible hospitality, for wonderful meals, sharing stories, laughter and time. The comisario spoke for the group. “Thank you for coming to visit us. Thank you for the work you did here. We hope you will come back soon. Please know that you are welcome here anytime. “And,” he concluded, “Whenever you see one of us in your country, please extend the same hospitality that we did to you.”

Then the leader of the sewing group brought out a few bottles of coca-cola to share with the group. One of the WAL group leaders remembered some sweet bread she happened to bring along. We sat around in a circle sharing sweet bread and drinking coca-cola.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

Prayer Request:
For those who are trying to build a barrier between Mexico and the United States.
For those who are trying to break down barriers between Mexicans and USonians.

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4 Comments:

At 8:46 PM, Blogger Jan said...

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of hospitality.

 
At 10:30 AM, Blogger Alison said...

Hi Liz and Martin! You may already know, but wbez reported this morning that Alvira Arellano, who has been seeking sanctuary in a Methodist church for the last year so as not to be deported, is leaving the church to go to DC to advocate for refugee reform. Here's a link to the story. http://www.wbez.org/Program_848_Segment.aspx?segmentID=12718

Love and blessings,

Alison

 
At 5:37 PM, Blogger Tina said...

Thanks Liz for posting this evening communion blessed with laughter and basketball play. The youth in the WAL group are enjoying the memories of incredible welcome.... sometimes in life beautiful evenings of communing stand out, and this one will beyond time... as was sybolized by the double rainbow that evening. Tina

 
At 1:40 PM, Blogger kristin said...

beautiful, beautiful...i will not drink my coke in the same way again...

 

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